Mining-machine.



R. E. NOBLE.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20. 1914.

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R. E. NOBLE.

MINING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 2o, |9|4 l ,285,332., I Patented N 0V. 19,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented N 0V. 19, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- R. E. NOBLE.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2o, I9I4. 1,285,332., f

: IIII R. E.'NOBLE.

MINING NIIIcIIINIe.

APPLICA-HON FILED APR. 20,1914- l ,285,332. Patented Nov. 19, 1918.-

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v:RALPH E. NOBLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 MORGAN-GARDNERELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MINING-MACHINE.

peotuation of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 20, 1914. Serial No. 833,107.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RALPH E. NOBLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinols, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mining-Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to machines of the chain cuttertype, which are principally used in connection with coal4 rapid mannerand with a relatively small amount of strain tending to move the frameor supporting portion; which is provided with means for readily raisingand lowering the cutter arms; and in general, to improve theconstruction of such machines.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention Figure 1 is aside view, parts being shown diagrammatically, and other parts being ybroken away or omitted for convenience in illustration Fig. 2 is a planview made in a similar manner;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View on an enlarged scale, taken through theright hand end of Fig. 1, looking toward the right;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sectional details showing a portion of the drivingmechanism;

Figs. 7 and 8 are details of certain gear shift and locking devices; andFigs. 9, 10, 11 are details of the adjustable supporting posts.

In order to provide for a convenient movement about the mines and readysetting for operation, the machine is mounted on a truck 12 havingdriving wheels 13. These wheels are driven by means of a chain 14 andsprockets 15 and 16, from a shaft 17. The sprocket 16 is loosely mountedon the shaft 17, but is provided with a clutch 18 whereby it may bethrown into and out of driving relation with the shaft. rIhe shaft 17 isprovided with a gear 19 which meshes with a gear 20, which is driven bymeans of a vertical shaft 21, joints being provided in this shaft toprovide for the relative movement of the truck frame. A gear 22 ismounted on the shaft 21, and is provided with a clutch 23 having ahandle 24 for throwing the gear into and out of turning relation withthe shaft. rlhe gear 22 is drivenby a gear 25 on the driving shaft of amotor 26. This motor may be supplied with current in any well-known way.

rlhe shaft 21 is also provided with a worm 27 which meshes with a wormgear 28 on a shaft 29, mounted in bearings from the main frame. rIhisshaft is provided with gears 30 and 31, which mesh respectively withgears 32 and 33, these gears being in turn loosely mounted 0n separateshafts 34 and 35. The gears'32 and 33 are provided with clutches 36 and37 respectively, whereby they may be caused to drive their respectiveshafts. The shaft 34 is provided with drums 38 and 39 for operatingropes or cables for raising and lowering one unit or portion of thecutting apparatus proper. Ropes or cables 40 and 41 lead from thesedrums up and over sheaves 42 and 43, and down to a vertically movableframe or platform 44, which carries one section of the cuttingapparatus. A second pair of cables 45 and 46 lead down and under sheaves47 and 48, and up and over sheaves 49 and 50, and down to the platform44. Turn buckles or adjusting devices 51 are used in connectionwiththese cables. The platform 44 is provided at the corners with guidemembers 52, which engage with posts 53 from the main truck frame, asshown in Figs. 9 to 11. rIhe ianges 54 of the platform guides, and 55 ofthe posts, are provided with slots 56 and 57 for receiving bolts 58, forclamping the latform in adjusted position. The sheaves 4 and 48 aremounted on the bottom of the posts 53. The sheaves 42, 43, 49 and 50 arecarried by adjusted slides 59 which engage with the posts 53. Theseslides or post extensions are provided in order to give a comparativelywide range of vertical adjustment, and yet having the posts madesuciently short so that the machine can be taken into low rooms. Theslides 59 are provided with ratchet teeth 60, which are engaged by dogs61 on the posts for holding atented Nov. I9, 1191-8.'

the slides in adjusted position. By means of this arrangement, it willbe seen that when the gear is being driven, the clutch 36 may be throwninto engagement, so as to drive the shaft 34 and wind up the cables toraise the platform 44 to the height desired. In order to prevent theplatform from accidentally moving downwardly, the shaft 34 is providedwith a ratchet wheel 62, which is engaged by a pawl 63, this device alsoserving to hold the platform in raised position until the clamping bolts58 are tightened.

The shaft is provided with drums for operating the second set of cablesfor rais-` ing and lowering the second platform 64. The supporting andoperating mechanism for this platform is a duplicate of that justdescribed, and will therefore not need to be described in detail.

The cutting apparatus carried by the platform 44 comprises a cutter arm65 which may be of any ordinary or preferred form of construction, vandwhich is provided with a cutter chain 66 having suitable cutting bits.This chain iS driven by means of a sprocket wheel 67, mounted on a shaft68, this shaft being mounted in bearings in a housing 69, mounted on theplatform 44, the shaft and bearings being so arranged that the cutterarm and driving sprocket may be placed at either top or bottom thereof,as indicated in Fig. 6. This shaft is turned by means of a gear 70 whichmeshes with a ear 71, mounted on a stub shaft 72, whic is provided witha gear 73, meshingvwith a pinion 74 on the driving shaft of a motor 75.

l This motor is also carried by the platform 44.

The cutter arm 65 is pivotally mounted 011 a bearing concentric with theshaft 68, and is swung in a horizontal plane in making the principal'cutting operations. In order to do this. it is provided with' suitableturning or feeding mechanism.l In the pi'esent instance such mechanismcomprises a sprocket wheel 76. which is secured thereto and is engagedby a chain 77, which passes around a second sprocket wheel 78 on a shaft79 which is also mounted in bearings in the housing The shaft 79 isprovided with a worm gear 80 which is engaged by a worm 81 mounted on ashaft 82, which Shaft is provided with a bevel gear 83, which is engagedat times by one or the other of a pair of bevel 'gears 84 and85 mountedon a horizontal shaft 86. This shaft is provided with a worm gear 87which is engaged by a feather 88, in order to permit the longitudinalmovement of thc shaft. The worm gear 87 is driven by means of a Vworm 89on the ,shaft 68. The shaft 86 is moved longitudinally in order todisengage the gears 84 and 85 from the gear 83, or to cause one or theother of the same to engage with the gear y83, in order to stop themovement of the cutter arm or to cause it to move in one or the otherdirection. The shifter or locking mechanism for the shaft 86 comprises alaterally projecting yoke or member 90 which is pivotally mountedthereon, between collars, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. This yoke isengaged by an eccentric 91 on a shaft 92, this shaft being provided witha squared end 93 or other suitable means whereby it may be turned tocause the eccentric to move the yoke and shaft 86. In order that thecutter chain may be driven at times without operating the cutter barfeeding mechanism and in order to hold the cutter bar in adjustedposition, I provide a clutch and locking device which is shown in Figs.4 and 5. The worm gear 80 is loosely mounted on the shaft 79 and isprovided on its lower end with clutch teeth, which are adapted to engagewith similar teeth on the upper end of a clutch member 94, this 'memberbeing splined to the shaft. The clutch member 94 is also provided withteeth in its lower end, which are adapted to engage with teeth 95 in thehousing 69, the arrangement being such that when these teeth are inengagement, the shaft 79 will be locked in position and will prevent thecutter arm from turning. The clutch member 94 is provided with a shifteryoke 96 on a shaft 97, this shaft being provided with an arm 98 which isconnected with a handle 99, leading to the outer end of the machine foroperating the clutch.

The platform 64 is provided with a substantially duplicate cuttingapparatus, com- 100 prising a cutter arm 100 and a motor 101 l withgearing and controlling device substantially the same as described.

The motor 26 is preferably of the reversible type and a controller 102is provided for 105 controlling the same. Controllers 103 and 104 areprovided for controlling motors 75 and 101, suitable connections beingprovided, such connections -being omitted in the drawings in order toavoid confusion. A

jack 105 is also provided for holding the machine in workinghposition,

As ordinarily used, the machine will 'run on tracks in a mine, and themotor 26 will supply power for operating the truck.

The cutting apparatus may be operated in various ways. For instance, thecutter arms 65' and 100 may be swung around by their swinging mechanismuntil they stand at subtantially right angles to the center line of thetruck. Then when the inner end of the machine comes close to the face ofthe coal, the clutch 18 is withdrawn and the jack 105 placed in positionto hold the machine. The

motor 26 may then be run to supply power 125 for raising the cuttingapparatus proper. Ordinarily, both the cutting arms will be cutting inthe same horizontal plane. If the arnis are to be raised to aconsiderable height,

the post extensions 59 are raised to the de- 130 call sired height, andthen the platforms 44 and 64 are raised by means of the gear and ropesheretofore described. When the cutter arms have reached the desiredheight, the bolts 58 are tightened to hold the platforms or movableframes in raised position. The motors 75 and 101 may then be started andthese motors supply power for swinging the cutter arms, as well asdriving the cutter chains. The cutter chains are continuously driven,while the motors are in operation, but the feed may be regulated bymeans ofthe clutch 94 and connected parts heretofore described, and maybe reversed by means of the shifting gears 84 and 85, and thecontrolling mechanism operated by the shaftV 92. rlhe arms 65 and 100are ordinarily swung toward each other during the cutting operationuntil their outer ends approach close to each other. Then the cuttingmay be completed by fixing the arms in this position by depressing theclutch members 94 until they engage with the teeth 95, and then backingthe truck away from the face of the coal,

while the cutting mechanism continues in operation.

In some instances one cutting arm may be positioned slightly above theother, so that when they are swung inwardly they may pass each other,and thereby practically complete the kerf, before the machine is movedaway from the face. v

In other instances, the cutter bars may be swung until their outer endsare close together before the machine approaches the face of the coal,then the truck will be driven inwardly until the bars have cut into thecoal, and then the cutter bars may be swung to complete the kerf.

It will be observed that my improved machine is so arranged that all ofthe controlling devices may be readily operated by one operator, and itwill also be observed that themachine may be quickly brought to cutting'position, and the cutting operation is performed with the cuttingstrains practibalanced in the machlne. On account of aving the cuttingdevice arranged. on either side of the machine and swinging toward orVfrom each other during the cutting operation, one of such devices acts,as it were, as a support for the other, so that there is comparativelylittle tendency toward lateral movement of the truck, and therefore, themachine will be easily held in position.

The provision of independently adjustable coperating cutting mec onesupport or platform comprises one of the principal features of myinvention, and it will be readily seen that the various details ofconstruction may be readily changed without departing from this generalidea or the spirit of this invention, and therefore do not wish to limitmyself to the exact construction shown and described, except as anismsarranged on v specified in the following claims, in which l claim: v

1. ln a mining machine, the combination of a pairof verticallyadjustable horizontally swinging cutter chains carrying arms arrangedupon a common support, and means for swinging said arms in oppositedirections.

2. In a mining machine, the combination of a support, a cuttingapparatus mounted on said'support, means for raising and lowering saidapparatus, a secondy cutting apparatus mounted on the same support,means for raising and lowering said second apparatus, each of saidcutting apparatus including a swinging arm carrying a cutter chainprovided with bits and means for feeding the same, whereby the irst andsecond named apparatuses will move in opposite directions during thecutting operation.

3. The combination of a support, a vertically movable platform mountedon said support, means for raising and lowering said platform, ahorizontall swinging cutter bar mounted on said plat orm, cuttingdevices comprising bit carrying cutter chains carried by said bar, meansfor actuating said cutting devices, and means for swinging said bar; asecond vertically movable platform mounted on said support, means forraising and lowering said second named platform, a horizontally swingingcutter arm mounted on said second named platform, cutting devicescomprising bit carrying cutter chains carried by said last named cutterarm, means for actuating said devices, and means for swinging said armin an opposite direction from the first-named bar during the cuttingoperation.

4. A mining machine having a plurality of'independently mounted cutterbars, with cutting apparatus comprising cutteir chains provided withbits carried by each bar, means for independentl adjusting said c utterbars in a vertical irection, and means for swinging said cutter barshorizontally in opposite directions.

5. A mining machine comprising a truck with a plurality of v rticallyadjustable cutter bars mounted t ereon, cutting mechanism comprisingcutter chains with bits carried by said bars, with means for adjustingsaid cutter bars vertically, and means for swinging said barshorizontally in .opposite directions for feeding.

6. In a mining machine, the combination of'a main frame, two powerdriven cutting lapparatuses including cutter chains and bits 7. Thecombination of a truck, a pair of platforms mounted on said truck, powerdriven devices for raising said platforms, and power driven cuttingapparatus mounted on each of said platforms arranged so'as to feedtoward each other during the cutting operation, so that the feedingstrains will be equalized.

8. The combination of a truck, verticalv guides on said truck, a pair ofvertically movable platforms engaging with said guides, power drivenmeans for raising said platforms, cutting apparatus carried by each j ofsaid platforms, and independent means for operating each of said cuttingapparatus including means for feeding the cutting apparatuses inopposite directions.

9. The combination of a truck, a pair of vertically movable platformsmounted on said truck, cutting apparatus including swinging arms withcutter chains and bits carried by each of said platforms, means forfeeding said ar`ms in opposite directions, a motor on said truck,connections between said motor and said platforms for raising theplatforms, and connections between the motor and the truck for drivingthe truck.

10. The combination of a truck, a motor,

means for connecting and disconnecting the f motor for driving thetruck, vertical guides I on said truck, a pair of frames engaging withsaid guides, means actuated by said motor for raising said frames, acutting apparatus comprising swinging arms with cut` 12. A miningmachine comprising, in coi'nbination, two cutter bars each provided withits cutter chain and a driving sprocket, pivotal mountings for saidcutter bars, having axes coincident with the axes of said drivingsprockets, means for contemporaneously swinging said cutter bars on saidpivotal mountings in opposite directions while operating both of saidcutter chains, and means for vertically adjusting said cutter barstogether with the swinging means and chain driving means.

13. A mining machine comprising, in combination, two cutter bars eachprovided with its cutter chain, means for driving said chains, means forswinging said cutter bars contemporaneously in oppositedirections-respectively while operating said cutter chains in oppositedirections respectively, and means for vertically adjusting said cutterbars together with the chain driving and arm swinging means.

14. In a mining apparatus, the combina tion of a mining machine havingtwo cutter bars'each provided with its cutter chain, and

means for swinging said cutter bars contemporaneously in oppositedirections while operating said cutter chains in opposite directionsrespectively, with a support A on which said mining machine is adaptedto be advanced bodily toward the work, and means for adjusting themachine vertically with respect to the support. 1

15. In a mining machine, the combination of a support, two cutter barspivotally mounted at the inner end of said support, cutter chains forsaid bars in opposite directions, means for driving the respectivecutter chains in opposite directions, means. for swinging the cutterbars, and means for vertically adjusting said bars together with theirchain driving and swinging means, whereby kerfs may be cut at differentelevations.

RALPH E. NOBLE.

Witnesses:

F. HEEREN, E. V. GUsTAFsoN.

